As Memorial Day approaches, Mitch Gould, founder and CEO of Nutritional Products International (NPI), is calling on Americans to reflect on the true meaning of the holiday and honor the service members who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Observed annually as a national day of remembrance, Memorial Day pays tribute to the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces who died while serving.
“Memorial Day is about remembering the courage, sacrifice, and commitment of those who gave everything for our country,” Gould said. “It is also a time to appreciate the freedoms and opportunities we enjoy because of their service and the sacrifices made by military families throughout generations.”
Gould, whose career spans more than 35 years in retail distribution, manufacturing, and brand development, noted that the values associated with Memorial Day—perseverance, discipline, loyalty, and sacrifice—are also foundational to American entrepreneurship and personal resilience. “In business and in life, success is built on perseverance, discipline, loyalty, and sacrifice,” he said. “Those values are deeply connected to the spirit of Memorial Day and the men and women who served our country.”
Gould’s recently released memoir, The Blonde, the Ferrari, and the Kwan: The Quintessential American Success Story, chronicles his journey from a Brooklyn upbringing to building partnerships with major retailers, athletes, entertainers, and consumer brands across the United States. Over his career, Gould has helped launch and expand brands into major retail channels including Amazon, Walmart, Costco, CVS, Walgreens, GNC, 7-Eleven, Home Depot, and Lowe’s. Through NPI’s proprietary Evolution of Distribution platform, the company assists domestic and international brands in navigating the complexities of entering and scaling within the U.S. retail market.
“As we gather with family and friends this Memorial Day weekend, it is important that we never lose sight of why the holiday exists,” Gould added. “We owe a debt of gratitude to those who served and sacrificed for this country.”
Gould’s reflections highlight the broader implications of Memorial Day beyond the long weekend—a reminder of the cost of freedom and the opportunities that military service protects. For entrepreneurs and business leaders, the values of service and sacrifice remain as relevant in the boardroom as on the battlefield.
